Rolled toilet tissue dispenser



Nov. 16, 1965 1.. SCHWARTZ ROLLED TOILET TISSUE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Dec. 15, 1964 INVENTOR. .S'C'HW/IQ 7-2 FIG.|

TIIF j 1965 E. L. SCHWARTZ ROLLED TOILET TISSUE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Dec. 15, 1964 FIG] FIG.6

FIG.8

INVENTOR. EVAN L, Sewn V4272 United States Patent Ofilice 3,2l7,8Patented Nov. 16, I955 3,217,998 ROLLED TOILET TISSUE DISPENSER Evan L.Schwartz, 5426 N. Spahn Ave., Lakewood, Calif. Filed Dec. 15, 1%4, Ser.No. 418,497 8 Claims. (Cl. 242-5542) The present invention relatesgenerally to rolled toilet tissue dispensers, and more particularly to adispenser that provides protective storage for at least one extra rollof tissue, with the extra roll being so arranged that it can be movedinto position for use when the supply of tissue on a first roll has beendepleted, all to the end that a readily available supply of tissue isassured at all times. The present invention is a continuation-in-part ofmy copending patent application entitled Dispenser for Rolled ToiletTissue, filed in the United States Patent Office on October 5, 1962,under Serial No. 228,582, now Patent No. 3,168,258.

Various dispensers of the type in which a number of rolls of toilettissue can be stored and sequentially moved into a dispensing positionas required have been devised and marketed in the past, wherein thestored rolls occupy either vertical or horizontal positions. However,these dispensers, except for the one disclosed and claimed in mycopending application Serial No. 228,582, have, in the main, beendesigned to accommodate rolls of non-standard size (less than the fourand one-half inch standard), which requires that the tissue supply beobtained from but a limited number of manufacturers, and at greater costthan that of standard size rolls.

In the case of prior vertical-feed dispensers of the type described,certain operational disadvantages have been encountered in that thesupply tube thereof is supported at the top of the device only, whichrequires the use of a complicated locking mechanism that operates inconjunction with a special metal ring inserted in the paper cor of eachroll of tissue to prevent pilfering thereof. Also, a spring-pressedfinger must be employed which at all times engages that roll of tissuein the dispensing position to act as a brake and prevent uselessunwinding of the roll and waste of tissue. It will be obvious that suchaccessories found in previously available dispensers greatly increasethe cost thereof.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a rolled toilettissue dispenser which overcomes the disadvantages found in priordevices of this type, and one which will accommodate rolls of tissuefrom any manufacturing source, whether of standard or non-standard size,is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, simple to operate andservice, and which reduces to a minimum, the effort required in placingthe reserve roll in a dispensing position after the starting roll hasbeen exhausted.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description thereof, and from theaccompanying drawings illustrating the same, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first form of the dispenser;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dispenser, takenon the line 33 of FIGURE 2, showing a first roll of tissue in adispensing position, with a second roll stored thereabove;

FIGURE 4 is the same longitudinal cross-sectional view of the deviceshown in FIGURE 3, after the first roll of tissue has been removedtherefrom and the second roll is in a position just before it movesdownwardly by force of gravity into a dispensing position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal, cross-sectional view of amodification of the first form of dispenser;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the first form of thedevice, taken on the line 66 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a support for a roll of tissue usedwith a second form of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of the second form of the dispenserand the support shown in F1- URE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of thesecond form of the invention, taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a part of the cross-sectional view of the second form ofthe device shown in FIGURE 9, after the dispenser has been moved to asecond position to permit removal of the support shown in FIGURE 7.

With continuing reference to the drawings for the general arrangement ofthe first form of the invention, it will be seen in FIGURES l and 4 toinclude a back plate A which is adapted to be aflixed to a wall B byconventional means, such as screws 8, or the like. Back plate A supportsa forwardly extending housing C on the upper portion thereof, and a baseassembly D projects forwardly fro-m the lower portion of the back plate.

The base assembly D rigidly supports an upright tubular member E, whichis of such length and is so disposed relative to housing C that a firstroll of toilet tissue F of a standard size can be rotatably supported onthe lower portion of the member in a dispensing position. During thetime the roll F is so supported in a dispensing position, a second rollof toilet tissue G of the same size as roll F may be mounted on theupper portion of the tubular member E in a concealed position Within theconfines of the housing C.

The second roll G is maintained on the upper portion of the tubularmember E by a manually operable release assembly H that is best seen inFIGURES 3 and 4. The release assembly H cannot be actuated until thecylindrical cardboard shell 10 of the roll of toilet tissue F has beenmanually torn longitudinally to remove the shell from the dispenser.

After the shell 10 has been so removed, the release assembly H can beoperated by the user to permit th second roll G of toilet tissue to movedownwardly on tubular member E by force of gravity into a dispensingposition. It should be understood that all reference herein to astandard size roll of toilet tissue means the 4 /2" size roll currentlyretailed throughout the United States markets, in contrast to rolls oftoilet tissue of special size as are used with such dispensers disclosedand claimed in the Wooster Patent No. 3,019,997 and Birr Patent No.2,726,824.

In the first form of the dispenser, the roll F of toilet tissue isrestrained from spinning when in a dispensing position, due to the factthat the lower outer circumferential edge 12 only, of the roll is inpressure contact with the outwardly inclined upper surface 14 of thebase assembly D, as will be explained hereinafter. The friction betweenthe edge 12 and the surface It serves as a brake against spinning of theroll F during dispensing thereof.

With regard to the detailed construction of the first form of dispenser,the housing C thereof is defined by a front wall 16, and two side walls18 that are afiixed to the back plate A. Walls 18 can either be formedas an integral part of the back plate A or affixed thereto byconventional means. In FIGURE 6 it will be seen that the side walls 18comprise two interlocking sections and are rigidly connected by spotWelding, or the like.

To reinforce the positioning of the housing C relative to the back plateA, it is preferable to provide two extensions 18a which taper downwardlyand rea-i'wardly from the side Walls 18 (FIGURE 1) to join the backplate A. The transverse cross section of housing C is unimportant, so

long as it is of sufficient area to house the second roll G within theconfines thereof. To lighten the weight of the first form of dispenser,which is desirable from the standpoint of shipping, a central,longitudinally extending portion of back plate A is cut out to define anopening 20 therein, as also shown in FIGURE 1. A number of openings 22are also formed in back plate A through which the screws 8 extend toatfix the first form of dispenser to the wall B.

A cover I is provided that has a continuous flange 24 depending from thesides and forward portion thereof. Openings are formed in the rearportions of flange 24. Pins 26 extend outwardly from the side walls 18to pivotally engage these openings and support the cover I from the sidewalls. As may best be seen in FIGURE 3, a keyoperated lock 28 issupported on the forward interior portion of cover I, and this lockengages a strike 30 afiixed to the upper interior portion of the frontwall 16. The lock 28 is operated by inserting a key (not shown) throughan opening 32 formed in the cover I, as shown in FIGURE 1. A centrallydisposed, downwardly extending dimple 34 is formed in cover I whichengages the upper portion of the tubular member E when the cover is inthe closed position illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The lower portion of back plate A, as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2,develops into a rectangular section 36 that is substantially narrower inwidth than the balance thereof. Section 36 (FIGURES l, 3 and 4) is bentoutwardly relative to the balance of the back plate A in a directionsubstantially normal thereto. The section 36 also forms a part of thebase assembly D. The balance of the base assembly D, as shown in FIGURE1, includes an inverted cup-shaped member 37 that is partially definedby a vertically extending tab 38, which by Welding or other conventionalmeans, is rigidly affixed to the lower forward surface of back plate A.

The lower edge of tab 33 develops into a forward and slightly downwardlyextending sheet 40, which is at an angle of approximately 2 relative tothe horizontal. Sheet 40 defines the surface 14 on which thecircumferential edge 12 of roll F rests. Three flanges 42 depend fromthe sides and forward end of sheet 40, and the lower edges of theseflanges develop into outwardly extending lips 44 that are in abuttingcontact with the upper surface of section 36.

By means of welding beads 46 and 48 (FIGURE 3) the tubular member E isrigidly affixed to the section 36 and sheet 40 to support the member inan upwardly extending position. The elongate tubular member E is furtherheld in this upright position by engagement of the upper open endthereof with the dimple 34 of the cover I, as may best be seen inFIGURES 3 and 4.

The manually operable release H includes an elongate rigid strip 50 thatis longitudinally disposed within the confines of the member E (FIGURES3 and 4). The upper end of strip 50 is affixed to the upper interiorportion of member E by conventional fastening means 52. A doubled-over,forwardly extending section 54 of strip 50 serves as a support for thesecond roll G, as best shown in FIGURE 3. When strip Stl is in a firstposition as shown in FIGURE 3, the support 54 projects forwardly throughan opening 56 formed in the member E. The lower end of strip 50 is bentto define a rearwardly extending finger 58 that can be manually movedthrough an opening 60 in member B after the cardboard shell of this rollhas been torn therefrom. To facilitate removal of shell 10 from memberE, the lower forward portion of the tubular member E is formed with arecess 62 (FIG- URE 3) to permit a finger (not shown) of a user to beinserted therein. Exertion of a forward force by the finger causes shell10 to tear whereby it can be easily removed.

A transversely disposed compressed helical spring 64, best seen inFIGURES 3 and 4, extends between the lower rear surfaces of the strip 50and the adjacent interior surface of member E. The forward end of spring64 (FIGURE 3) is seated in a recess 66 formed in strip 50, and the rearend of this spring engages a forwardly extending protuberance 69 formedon the member E.

A portion 70 of strip 50 opposite recess 66 projects forwardly. Topermit the strip 50 to lie close to the interior of the tubular member Eas shown in FIGURE 3, an opening 72 is formed in the tubular member inwhich the portion '79 is disposed. The opening 72 is provided to permitinsertion of a finger (not shown) of a user into the tubular member E toexert a rearwardly directed force on the strip 50 to move the strip froma first position shown in FIGURE 3 to a second position illustrated inFIGURE 4.

It will be apparent that prior to insertion of a finger by a user intoopening 72, that the shell 10 of roll F must be manually torn from thetubular member E. It will also be apparent that due to the action offinger 58, the strip 50 cannot be moved from the first to the secondposition until shell 10 of roll F has been torn from the tubular memberE. The inability of the strip 50 to move from the first to the secondposition until shell 10 has been torn from tubular member E assures thatsubstantially all of the tissue on roll F will be used before roll G isallowed to drop into a dispensing position.

The use and operation of the first form of the invention are relativelysimple. The cover I is placed in the open position and the first roll oftissure F is caused to engage the tubular member E. The first roll F isthen supported in the housing C by the support 54. Thereafter, strip 50is manually moved from the first position shown in FIG- URE 3 to thesecond position illustrated in FIGURE 4. Next, support 50 is disengagedfrom the lower edge of shell 10 of roll F whereby the roll movesdownwardly by force of gravity on tubular member E. Then upon release ofthe rearward force on strip 50, the spring 64 moves the strip into thefirst position shown in FIGURE 3 and roll F assumes the position alsoshown in this figure, with the edge 12 of the roll resting on theforwardly inclined surface 14. Thereafter, the second roll G is slippedonto the tubular member E to be held inside the housing C by the shell10 thereof which rests on the support 54, and cover I is closed andlocked.

First roll P will not spin if the tissure thereon is jerked suddenly,due to the frictional contact that is maintained at all times betweenthe edge 12 thereof and the surface 14. When the first roll F has beendepleted, the shell 10 thereof is torn from the roll in the mannerpreviously described.

Strip 50 is then manually moved from the first position shown in FIGURE3 to the second position illustrated in FIGURE 4 as described. The shell10 of second roll G is disengaged from support 54 whereby it starts tomove downwardly on tubular member E in the manner illustrated in FIGURE4. Then upon release of the rearward force on strip 50, the spring 64moves the strip into the first position illustrated in FIGURE 3, whichpermits the roll G to drop downwardly due to force of gravity to rest onsurface 14 to occupy the same position as that of roll F shown in FIGURE3. Roll G may then be dispensed in the same manner described inconnection with the first roll F. Before depletion of roll G, anotherroll (not shown) is mounted on the tubular member E within housing Cwhere it rests on support 54.

A modification of the first form of the dispenser is shown in FIGURE 5in which a strip 50' is provided having a finger asa part thereof whichis defined by a doubledover section of the strip which serves the samefunctions as the finger 58 described above. An extension '78 of thestrip 50 projects downwardly through an opening 74 formed in section 36.The extension 78 serves as a trigger to manually move strip 50' from afirst to a second position after the shell 10 of roll F has been tornfrom the tubular member E. This modified form of the dispenser operatesin the same manner as the first form thereof, and accordingly, need notbe repeated.

A second form K of the dispenser is shown in FIG- URES 7-10 inclusive ofthe drawings. Dispenser K includes a housing L that has a closed upperend M and an open lower end. A tubular member N depends from the upperend M, and extends downwardly through the housing L, below the loweredge 80 of the housing, a distance slightly greater than the height ofone of the rolls of tissue F or G. The housing L is aflixed to a wall Bby conventional means.

Two diametrically opposed, tapered openings 82 are formed in the lowerportion of tubular member N. Two balls 84 are provided that are of suchdiameter as to project outwardly from tubular member N a substantialdistance when seated in the openings 82 as shown in FIG- URE 9. A bar 86extends transversely across member N.

The bar 86 is slidably engaged by two longitudinally extending slots 88formed in a cage 90 that is capable of limited movement within tubularmember N. The cage 90 includes two laterally spaced side pieces 92 inwhich the slots 90 are formed, and a tubular spacer 94 extends betweenthese side pieces. Bar 86 extends through the spacer 94, as shown inFIGURE 9.

Cage 90 also includes an upper hollow portion 96. The upper end of atensioned spring 98 is connected by conventional means to the hollowportion 96, and by means of a loop 100 formed as a part thereof, thelower portion of spring 98 is connected to the spacer 94. Spring 98 atall times tends to move the cage 90 downwardly.

The lower portion of cage 90 supports a key-operated lock 102 having atransversely movable latch 104, which latch when in a first positionshown in FIGURE 9, rests on a strike 106 formed on the interior oftubular member N. When in the first position the latch 104 holds thecage 90 in its first position shown in FIGURE 9.

A first portion 108 of cage 90, when the cage is in the first position,contacts balls 84 and causes them to project outwardly through openings82. The cage 90 has a second portion 110 above the first portion 100 andnarrower in width, and this second portion allows the balls 84 to moveinwardly relative to the openings 82 (FIGURE when the cage is moved to asecond position.

The lock 102 has a downwardly and outwardly tapered shell 112 afiixed tothe lower end thereof, in which a key (not shown) can be extendedupwardly to engage the look. When the lock 102 is opened, the latch 104is disengaged from stroke 106, whereby the spring 90 moves the cage 90downwardly to the extent that portion 110 thereof is in transversealignment with openings 82 and the balls 84 can move into the positionshown in FIG- URE 10.

A support 0 for rolls of tissue used in the second form K of thedispenser is shown in FIGURE 7. The support 0 includes a tube 114 thatsnugly and slidably engages the lower end of tubular member N in themanner shown in FIGURE 8. Two diametrically opposed openings 116 areformed in tube 114, into which openings outer portions of the balls 84can project to removably hold the support 0 on the tubular member N.

Two tabs 118 extend outwardly in opposite directions from the lowerportion of tube 114. Two oppositely disposed, upwardly extending slots120 are formed in the lower portion of tube 114 to facilitate insertionof a key (not shown) in the tapered shell 112 to operate the lock 102.The tube 114 is of such external diameter as to rotatably engage theinterior surfaces of the shells 10 of the first and second rolls F and Grespectively, when these rolls are mounted on the tubular member E.

The use and operation of the second form K of the dispenser are mostsimple. The lock 102 is opened to disengage latch 104 from strike 106,and the spring pulls the cage 90 downwardly to bring it into the secondposition shown in FIGURE 10.

Two rolls of tissue are slid upwardly on the tubular member N to occupypositions similar to those occupied by the rolls F and G on tubularmember E. Support O is slid upwardly on tubular member N and through theshell 10 of the lowermost roll of tissue to bring openings 116 intoalignment with openings 82.

Cage is then forced upwardly in tubular member N to a position where thespring-loaded latch 104 moves outwardly to seat on the strike 106. Ascage 90 is so moved upwardly, the second portion thereof forces theballs 84 outwardly to engage openings 116 and hold the support 0 inplace on the tubular member N. The lowermost roll of tissue on tubularmember N rests on the tabs 113, and the friction between the roll andthe upper surface of the tabs keeps the roll from spinning as tissue isdispensed therefrom. When the tissue on the lowermost roll has beendepleted, the shell 10 thereof is torn from the tubular member N and theroll thereabove moved downwardly from the housing L into the dispensingposition.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving the objectsand providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to beunderstood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferredembodiments thereof and I do not mean to be limited to the details ofconstruction herein shown and described, other than as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for use in storing a plurality of rolls of toilet tissuewrapped on severable cylindrical shells, which dispenser permits theremoval of tissue from each of said rolls when moved sequentially to apredetermined first position therein, comprising:

(a) a housing in which at least one of said rolls can be stored, whichhousing has a lower open end;

(b) a back plate removably attachable to a wall, which back platesupports said housing;

(0) a tubular member substantially parallel to said back plate andspaced forwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to permit movablesupport of a plurality of said rolls thereon;

(d) a base assembly that projects outwardly from said back plate andsupports said tubular member;

(e) first means on said base assembly for frictionally engaging an edgeportion of a first one of said rolls when disposed in a first positionbelow said housing wherein tissue is dispensed therefrom, with saidfrictional engagement preventing useless spinning of said roll in saidfirst position in the event the tissue being dispensed therefrom issubjected to sudden jerks;

(f) second means which are manually operable and hold at least onesecond roll on said tubular member in a second position within saidhousing above said first roll; and

(g) third means for preventing manual operation of said second means topermit said second roll to move downwardly by force of gravity towardssaid first position until such time as said shell on said first roll hasbeen manually removed from said tubular member.

2. A disperser as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means comprisesa downwardly and forwardly inclined surface defined on said baseassembly.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said second means includes:

(h) a longitudinally extending strip in said tubular member;

(i) means for rigidly connecting the upper end of said strip to theupper portion of said tubular member; and

(j) a support afiixed to said strip that extends through an opening insaid tubular member when said strip is in a first position substantiallyparallel to the interior surface of said tubular member, with thatportion of said support exteriorly of said tubular member having theshell of said second roll resting thereon, which strip when the lowerportion thereof is manually moved to a second position disengages saidsupport from said shell of said second roll to permit said second rollto start moving by force of gravity towards said first position.

4. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said third means includes:

(h) a finger disposed in a direction normal to said strip and disposedat the lower end thereof, with the length of said finger beingsubstantially that of the interior diameter of said tubular member,which finger is adapted to move through an opening in said tubularmember after a shell of a first roll of tissue has been removed from theexterior thereof.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 2' which further includes:

(k) an extension of said strip situated below said third means, whichextension is accessible through an opening formed in said base assembly,with said extension serving as a trigger to move said strip from saidfirst to said second position.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 3 which further includes:

(k) spring means that at all times tends to maintain said strip in saidfirst position.

7. A dispenser for use in storing a plurality of rolls of toilet tissuewrapped on severable cylindrical shells, which dispenser permits theremoval of tissue from each of said rolls when moved sequentially to apredetermined first position therein, comprising:

(a) a housing wherein at least one of said rolls can be stored, whichhousing has a closed upper end and an open lower end;

(b) a tubular member depending from said closed upper end whichterminates below the lower extremity of said housing a distance greaterthan the height of one of said rolls, which tubular member has twodiametrically opposed first openings formed in the lower portionthereof;

(c) two balls of greater diameter than that of said openings anddisposed in said tubular member in transverse alignment with saidopenings;

(d) a support for a first roll of said tissue that is rotatably mountedon said tubular member and disposed below said housing, which supportincludes a tube that slidably engages the lower portion of said tubularmember, two tabs which project outwardly from the lower end of said tubeand on which said first roll is rotatably supported, and two secondopenings formed in said tube that can be brought into transversealignment with said first openings; and

(e) longitudinally movable means in said tubular member which, when in afirst position places said balls in first position wherein portions ofsaid balls extend through said first and second openings to hold saidsupport in fixed relationship on said tubular member where said rollscan be moved sequentially below said housing and from which tissuethereon can be dispensed, which movable means when moved into a secondposition disposes said balls in positions where they do not engage saidfirst and second openings to permit removal of said support from saidtubular member and positioning of additional rolls thereon fordispensing purposes.

8. A dispenser as defined in claim 7 wherein said movable meansincludes:

(f) a spring-loaded cage in said tubular member that all times tends tomove from said first to said second positions; and (g) a manuallyoperable lock that prevents movement of said cage from said first tosaid second position until said lock is placed in an unlocked position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,224,106 4/1917Good 242-55.54 2,726,824 12/1955 Birr 24255.42

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

1. A DISPENSER FOR USE IN STORING A PLURALITY OF ROLLS OF TOILET TISSUEWRAPPED ON SEVERABLE CYLINDRICAL SHELLS, WHICH DISPENSER PERMITS THEREMOVAL OF TISSUE FROM EACH OF SAID ROLLS WHEN MOVED SEQUENTIALLY TO APREDETERMINED FIRST POSITION THEREIN, COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING IN WHICHAT LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLS CAN BE STORED, WHICH HOUSING HAS A LOWER OPENEND; (B) A BACK PLATE REMOVABLY ATTACHABLE TO A WALL, WHICH BACK PLATESUPPORTS SAID HOUSING; (C) A TUBULAR MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TOSAID BACK PLATE AND SPACED FORWARDLY THEREFROM A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TOPERMIT MOVABLE SUPPORT OF A PLURALITY OF SAID ROLLS THEREON; (D) A BASEASSEMBLY THAT PROJECTS OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BACK PLATE AND SUPPORTS SAIDTUBULAR MEMBER; (E) FIRST MEANS ON SAID BASE ASSEMBLY FOR FRICTIONALLYENGAGING AN EDGE PORTION OF A FIRST ONE OF SAID ROLLS WHEN DISPOSED IN AFIRST POSITION BELOW SAID HOUSING WHEREIN TISSUE IS DISPENSED THEREFROM,WITH SAID FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT PREVENTING USELESS SPINNING OF SAID ROLLIN SAID FIRST POSITION IN THE EVENT THE TISSUE BEING DISPENSED THEREFROMIS SUBJECTED TO SUDDEN JERKS; (F) SECOND MEANS WHICH ARE MANUALLYOPERABLE AND HOLD AT LEAST ONE SECOND ROLL ON SAID TUBULAR MEMBER IN ASECOND POSITION WITHIN SAID HOUSING ABOVE SAID FIRST ROLL; AND (G) THIRDMEANS FOR PREVENTING MANUAL OPERATION OF SAID SECOND MEANS TO PERMITSAID SECOND ROLL TO MOVE DOWNWARDLY BY FORCE OF GRAVITY TOWARDS SAIDFIRST POSITION UNTIL SUCH TIME AS SAID SHELL ON SAID FIRST ROLL HAS BEENMANUALLY REMOVED FROM SAID TUBULAR MEMBER.